QC praises Monica Joseph

Queens Counsel, Celia Clyne-Edwards has described retired high court judge, Justice Dame Monica Theresa Joseph as being a role model for practicing female lawyers.

In her statements on behalf of the Inner Bar, during a Special Sitting of the Court to mark the commencement of the New Law Year, 2013 to 2014, on Tuesday, the senior female lawyer on the island congratulated the highly decorated Grenadian, legal luminary and commended her for her “sterling” contribution to the local Bar.

Clyne-Edwards congratulated Dame Monica on her recent accomplishment, bestowed with the prestigious honour of Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for her service to the public and the law in June of this year.

The DBE is one of the five classes (in civil and military divisions) of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) established on 4th June 1917 by King George V.

The Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE) (counterpart to Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) is the second in seniority of the classes, and allows (but not prescribes) the postulant to use the title “Dame” before her first name.

Justice Joseph, who was among the seven Grenadians named on the Queen’s birthday honours list this year (2013), is no stranger to awards.

Among others, she is the holder of the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE), and in 2004 she received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) from the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus.

Justice Monica Joseph was the first female to be appointed as a judge of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.

She was appointed as a High Court judge in October 1982, and assigned to the Territory of the British Virgin Islands.

She served the Court until her retirement in 1996, after which she served in various acting appointments – her last appointment which was in St Vincent and the Grenadines ended on 31st July 2012.

Dame Monica has also served as Acting Governor-General of Grenada on a few occasions.

She is also a past Chairperson of the Public Service Commission (PSC).